Regular exercise can help seniors manage pain and illness symptoms, boost energy, and maintain their independence. Additionally, exercise encourages a happy mood and increases memory function. No matter your loved ones current fitness level, a home care aide can help them be more active with a variety of activities.

Exercise at Home

The most convenient way to exercise is at home. With a few simple tools such as DVDs, resistance bands, and light weights, seniors can exercise in the comfort of their own home. The home care provider can help select exercise videos that are appropriate to your loved ones fitness level. Choosing videos that most closely resemble the activity your loved one enjoys will increase the chances they will use it. For instance, if the elderly person loves to dance, they may enjoy a Zumba DVD. Any resistance bands or weights the elderly person uses should be light and easy to hold.

Another way to exercise at home is by performing light housekeeping. Completing household duties also provides the elderly person with a sense of independence and accomplishment, as they are able to care for themselves and their home. The housekeeping activities should match the elderly person’s physical capabilities such as laundry, vacuuming and dusting, and light yard work. Unless under the watchful eye of a home care aide, your loved one should avoid any house duties that require the use of ladders or heavy lifting.

Walk Indoors

Schedule weekly visits to places like the mall or a community center. Walking at these venues allows the elderly person to exercise no matter the weather conditions outside and provides a chance to socialize. Check the community boards for a geriatric walking group that meets at certain times of the day or week.

Geriatric Exercise Classes

Family friendly gyms like the YMCA often offer exercise classes geared specifically at seniors. These classes offer an invigorating workout but are gentle on joints. An added benefit is that the instructors are familiar with working with the elderly and they can help ensure your loved one is exercising safely.

It is important that your home care aide knows what sort of exercise your loved one is participating in or interested in trying. The CNA has a good understanding of your loved one’s physical limitations and can make recommendations on which exercises are appropriate and how often the exercises should be done.

Being physically active is an important part of staying healthy but physical activity does not have to be painful or excessively strenuous. It is important to keep in mind that not every activity is right for every elderly person. For instance, if your loved one struggles with balance, water aerobics or a dance class would not be a good fit but walking slowly around an indoor track or participating in a seated yoga class could offer a workout that is both safe and rewarding.

Keep in mind that the purpose of physical activity is to help keep your loved one vital and feeling healthy.
 

About Guided Living Senior Home Care Guided Living offers home health care services serving Plymouth, MA and the surrounding areas. Our mission is to assist our clients with improving quality of life, encouraging independence within their home and providing first-class care with respect, dignity, compassion and the highest ethical standards. We have incorporated great technology into the company like our FamilyCARES portal that gives families a real time look into their loved one’s care. One of our goals is to build trust and show accountability to clients and their families through transparency. We take care management seriously and each client has a dedicated Registered Nurse Care Manager that will supervise caregivers, perform regular in-home checks, and most importantly be available for clients and families to help navigate through tough questions and uncertainties during difficult times. To speak with a Registered Nurse Care Manager to learn more about our services call 508-927-1213 any time.